Anna: The Magic of Words (NES) - Demo #5
A downloadable game by EASTPIXEL for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
It’s a challenging 1980s like platformer game with a serious story. For the Nintendo Entertainment System® and Famicom.
Game in active development. Demo download below.
The story of the game
The magic of words gave you everything and suddenly took everything from you.
A little sad and disappointed you make your way through a dangerous world. Embark on the difficult journey through the jungle, icy landscapes and dangerous caves. Collect scrolls and combine their words, face your fear and the ticking clock.
But whatever happens, never forget your most important goal: find Anna.
The deeper meaning of the story
The game is more than a typical 1980s platformer. The game itself is just a shell. The shell for a process of self-discovery, healing, motivation and the strong will not to give up. The character embarks on an arduous journey and search for Anna.
Even if you’ve already guessed it, Anna doesn’t have to be human or animal. Anna can just as well be representative of a favourite place, a feeling, family, being at home, feeling good or the satisfaction of a completed task or with yourself, but of course also a single person.
There is no right or wrong answer to the meaning of the game title. You decide. You are also welcome to simply ignore the psychological aspect and concentrate fully on playing this challenging platforming title. Just pay attention to the little hearts and the ticking clock. ;-)
The Green Ribbon
EASTPIXEL supports the Green Ribbon and projects that support people and integration. The author of the video game Anna: The Magic of Words is one of these people himself. A long time ago, he set out on his own search for contentment and his own well-being. The project development helps him to focus on his goals and the motivation to keep going should also help other people. The author has already found his Anna.
The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness.
https://www.seelischegesundheit.net/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
P.S. The game starts with a quote of Rosa Parks and it will contain many more quotes from people who have fought for human rights and equality.
Stay updated on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eastpixel
Anna: The Magic of Words is a game by EASTPIXEL. Coding and design by Christian Dinse.
Developed to run on the Nintendo® Family Computer/Nintendo® Entertainment System. Nintendo®, Nintendo Entertainment System® and NES® are trademarks of Nintendo® of America Inc. EASTPIXEL is not affiliated to Nintendo®.
The title, game, concept, coding and art are © 2024 EASTPIXEL, www.eastpixel.de
Download
Install instructions
NES-ROM
Download NES (.nes ROM, Mapper 30), Region-free NTSC/PAL, 512 KB (file is .zipped)
- Software: You can play it with a software emulator on Linux, macOS, Windows etc.: Please use FCEUX or Mesen for best results
- Software and Hardware: You can play it on any random Gaming Handheld with RetroPie, Lakka, Recalbox, Batocera and so on …
- You also can use hardware flashcards like Krikzz EverDrive N8 (Pro) or nearly all other models available
Windows version macOS/Linux
- this version is working very well via Wine on macOS (Intel Apple Silicon M1, M2, M3) and Linux
- Just download the .zip file, extract it an run "anna.exe"
- compatible Windows versions (64bit versions): 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 10, 11
Changelog
Demo #5 (5.0.0) – available since October 11, 2024
- Changed: Audio Interface changed
- Added: Sound effects added - Jumping, Collecting scrolls, Collecting hearts, Get/Restart on Checkpoint, Get hurt, Game Over Screen
Demo #4 (4.0.1) – available since May 28, 2024
- Changed: The music is now playing in the correct speed on PAL and NTSC consoles
Demo #4 (4.0.0) – April 24, 2024
- Added: Music. Main theme song, Pre-Gameplay Sounds and the first Dungeon song
- Added: Overworld with Level selection (work in progress)
- Added: Enemies (bats, frogs, snakes)
- Added: "Learn to play" mode, after test players feedback
- Changed: Scroll physics, player hitbox
- Changed: collectable hears are now dynamic, they maybe appear if you need one
- Changed: Dungeon Level 1/2 – Level structure, Collectables, Enemies, Checkpoints
- Added: Dungeon Level 2/2 – a brand new second level for you to beat
- Changed: the bloody spikes in the Dungeon are finally gone (they were a placeholder in the game's development for almost two years and changed their appearance several times), please welcome the OCTUPUS PLANTS that have taken over the world and think about how they are related to the bats ;-)
- Changed: Gameplay timer set to 240 seconds per level
- Changes: Initial "lives" set to 6/8 when starting the game
Demo #3 (3.2.0) – August 17, 2023
- Added: Password system for cheatcodes
- Demo cheatcodes: 4878 -> No hurt (the spikes are not hurt you) 8136 -> Playtime counter is set to 600 seconds (instead of 180)
Demo #3 (3.1.0) – June 28, 2023
- Changed: Physics and scrolling engine
- Changed: Player physics (not in demo: slippery surfaces and more)
- Changed: Rendering process of graphics
- Changed: Sound aund audio system (note: no audio in demo right now)
- Changed: new environment elements
- Added: animated graphics and game objects (f.e. trampolines, hearts, grass)
- Added: collectable items (scrolls, hearts to add lifes, checkpoint flags)
- Added: Timer system (seconds count backward while playing)
- Added: Title screen, Splashscreens, Infoscreens
- Added: Main navigation to start the game or call extra functions
- Added (not in demo): Password system to resume the game later
Development log
- Anna: The Magic of Words (Windows/macOS/Linux)May 25, 2024
- Windows version of Anna: The Magic of Words (Demo) availableMay 11, 2024
- New demo version #4 (2024) finally avaiable.Apr 23, 2024
- Visit the EASTPIXEL exhibition booth at Lange Nacht der Computerspiele 2024 on A...Apr 11, 2024
- Anna: The Magic of Words - Cheatcodes inside! Try it yourself. :-)Aug 17, 2023
- Anna: The Magic of Words is listed on IGDB and on Twitch (for streaming) nowJul 02, 2023
- Anna: The Magic of Words - Game title and story revealJun 29, 2023
- Anna: The Magic of Words - Brand new demo version releasedJun 29, 2023
Comments
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This was really fun! It was frustrating AF for all the right reasons. The challenge is brutal at times, but the controls and collision detection are on point.
Hey abraxas, thank you really much for testing the demo. Good to hear, that you liked it. :-)
This is fun! I love precision platformers.
But a lives system?
Please give me infinite lives! And shorter respawn times! Let me die over and over again until I get the precision platforming right!
Thanks Jordi, cool that you like it. Since the demo update from two days ago, the respawn has a short animation and time of 2 seconds (until then it was instant restart - if you like watch an older video on YouTube) because of the feedback from people with epilepsy and other conditions with sensitivity to light because this would a breaker.
But you know what, it's a development process and I'm not finally sure about a (let's name it) "speedrun" mode without lives but with a counter of "deads" and a timer from 0 to >.
Really appreciate your feedback and download. :-)
Hello!
So glad to see this coming along nicely. Keep me posted when the physical version is ready for preorder.
Hey ya! The brand new demo version 3.0.1 is available now. Please see the changelog and if you like click the download button and give it a try.